In brief
Following a month-long suspension of flights to Haiti due to safety concerns, the FAA has authorized U.S. airlines to resume operations at six northern airports, while access to the main airport in Port-au-Prince remains restricted until December.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that it has lifted the suspension on U.S. flights to six airports in northern Haiti. This decision follows a 30-day ban imposed after gunfire incidents, including an attack on a Spirit Airlines flight attempting to land in Port-au-Prince on November 12. As a result, that flight had to divert to the Dominican Republic. The closure of flights since mid-November had severe ramifications, leaving travelers stranded and hindering humanitarian aid deliveries to the beleaguered nation. While flights to Port-au-Prince remain prohibited until December 12, U.S. carriers, along with general aviation pilots, can operate in six specified airports: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haïtien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon, and Jacmel. Haiti has descended into chaos following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse over three years ago, leading to the rise of gangs that now dominate the country. These criminal groups have taken control of key infrastructure, leading to widespread violence, including attacks on police stations and mass kidnappings. The United Nations has revealed that gangs now control approximately 85 percent of the capital, further complicating the country's dire situation.
